The Republican journal., 1887-06-02
Al MONROE,


The day at Monroe had more than the usual Mt
traction. in addition to the Memorial exercises
the beautiful soldiers monument recently erected
was unveiled and dedicated. The threatening an.
pcarancc of the weather kept many at home but
| there was soodly number present. In the fore
| noon the procession formed as follows:
Monroe Band.
Decorating Squad.
+. Nj. Billings Post, No. -
Relief Corps
Good Templars Lodge
Citizens.
On arriving at the cemetery the company as
| semblcd at the monument which was yelled Mr..
! Freeman Atwood stepped forward and said:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: This Memorial DAY
is but the outgrowth of the great rebellion it
seems but short time to those of us who are pa st
the meridian of life since the first state declared,
secession, and yet it has been twenty-six years
since Abraham Lincoln called for men and means
to stay the rebelliOus spirit that then existed
From that time to the close of the war a little
town in Waldo county called Monroe furnished
Isl men for the defence of the Union-not paper
men, but Isl of its best citizens, the bone and
hillsides, its fertile valleys, and left home and
| friends to take the chances of cruel war; and
after months and even years of hardship such as
none but soldiers can realize those of the number
who were not slain the battlefield, or who had
not died in hospitals or Southern prisons came
home-many of them 10 die from the effects of
have been thinned to the little number YOU see
here, called Billings Post. And to YOU, bows in
blue, the citizens of this town feel ever grateful
You have stood, by night and by day, between us
and our enemies, guarded our property, and won
u glorious victory.
And now, Commander Of f. II. Billings Post,
No. "A, Dept. Maine, G.. A. r., AS a token of re-
spect for the soldiers, have been authorized to
invite YOU at this tfme to accept from the citizens
of Monroe and vicinity this memorial, and to re-
quest that 1t may Ike dedicated by you to the noble
purpose for which it has been erected.
Post Commander Isaac Cook accepted the monu.
ment in few well chosen remarks and then
dedicated the monument agreeable to the ritual
laid down for that purpose. Col w. II. Foyler of
Belfast, followed with some appropriate remarks,
which were well received. The decorating squad
accompanied by young ladies' then sought out the
graves of the soldiers and laid garland of flow
ers upon each. The Relief Corps built mound
near the base of the monument and decorated it
with flowers. This was for the unknown soldiers
who sleep on many well fought battlefield. A
beautiful wreath, artistcally fashioned of number.
less flowers, presented to the Post by Mrs. Levi
Rich, OF East jackson. was placed about the statue
on the monument. This floral Offering was much
appreciated by the soldier boys. In the afternoon
large company assembled at the hall to listen tn
the address of Col. W. II. Fogler, Of Belfast. The
address was able and well received After relating
the deeds and pers Of the soldiers he said to the
young people: "For you, who arc too young to
have known the terrible realities of war; it is well
to bow at this altar, and there in the presence of
the living and the dead who helped to carry the
nation through its hour of supreme peril, to con
secratc your lives to the cause of good govern.
ment, Of national liberty, of loyalty, and the ma
tion's honor, and to resolve that your influence
and your example shall ever sustain the faith
and the integrity of your country, and your
arms he ever ready to defend the right. He
reviewed the history of wars and their effects In
the old countries and compared them with our
own. He said he had no faith nor fellowship with
those who see ruin and anarchy the dissolution Of
the nation, the destruction of free government in
the immediate future of the country. Nothing in